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Ports to build new domestic terminal

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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PROPOSED DOMESTIC TERMINAL UNVEILED Deputy Prime Minister Manasseh Maelanga and Solomon Ports Chief Executive Officer Eranda Kotelawala honoured to promote the architectural design of the multi-million dollar Seaport Domestic Terminal during the commissioning of the Eastern gate yesterday.

BY JARED KOLI

The Solomon Islands Ports Authority (SIPA) has begun preparatory work on building a new multimillion-dollar ultramodern three-storey seaport terminal.  

The state-owned enterprise yesterday unveiled the concept design of the new seaport terminal designed by local architectural firm, Raoto’o Architectural Services.

SIPA Chief Executive Officer Eranda Kotelawala told Island Sun in an interview that the project costs around $30 to $35 million and is fully funded by Solomon Ports. He said when complete, it will improve the standard of Honiara domestic port, and will be one of the model domestic seaport terminal in the Pacific region.

He said the warehouse at the Ports ground, next to Solomon Islands Maritime Authority office will be demolished to make way for the new seaport terminal. Ports will provide a temporary complex for the current tenants of the warehouse.

“One thing that has been missing over the last 50 years was the absence of a proper domestic terminal or at least a shelter for the passengers, and also to provide more facilities for the ship owners/operators.

“So, the new concept is actually a hallmark of the surpassed development plan for the Solomon Ports, especially for Honiara Domestic terminal for passengers,” Mr Kotelawala said.

He said the new building will provide a number of facilities.

“The first floor will have cafes, shops and convenient rooms for male and female.

“The second floor will house a public viewing gallery, some cafes, and ticketing offices for ship operators to make more convenient and easier for passengers. This will also help ship operators to get better revenue because its more formalised.

“The third floor will have multiple offices, so anybody who want office space can have it there,” the Solomon Ports CEO said.

He said the tenants residing in the current warehouse at the project site will also be accommodated in the new complex.

“We support local communities by engaging local contractors and local designers. This is our contribution to the country and the public by this prominent SOEs in the country.

“We will be starting the ground work soon, hopefully after this unveiling we will start setting up the foundations and work should proceed.”

He said they hope to commission the new terminal in nine to 10 months’ time.

“Once the foundation is set, it will take six to eight months to complete. Now all the design is done, structural drawing is done, we will start the work very soon,” he said.

Govt’s cash flow problem continues

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

SOLOMON Islands Government is still facing a challenging situation with its cash flow.

This problem began around early June, pundits say June 18.

This was confirmed by Bruce Phillips, Accountant General  Ministry of Finance and Treasury in a leaked email to Minister of Finance, SIG Permanent Secretaries and SIG Financial Controllers.

Philips said presently Treasury has over $200 million of payments that it is not able to pay due to very limited cash flow. 

He said this situation has largely been brought about due to the significant 3rd quarter payments due in the first two weeks of July.

“The 3rd quarter payments relate broadly to provincial health funding, provincial administration and salary grants, education grants, parliamentary entitlements, housing rentals, other allowances and MRD constituency payments. 

“Naturally donor funded payments are NOT impacted nor are COVID related payments as these are funded separately from SIG,” he said.

Phillips said MoFT is working closely with supportive donors and the local debt market to address the current constraints.

“We anticipate agreeing terms for the use of almost $100m of JICA funding in the coming days to assist with the current funding shortfall,” he said.

Phillips said ministries are advised that there will not be  a quick-fix to the current situation and they are requested to proactively take all  necessary steps to ensure spending being incurred is prioritised and in accordance with the government’s clear redirection guidelines. 

“If Ministries do not act PROACTIVELY, Treasury will be forced to take more stringent steps to improve cashflow.

“During this time Treasury is also trying to slowly build up SIG cash reserves to a more acceptable level,” he said.

Phillips said Provincial touring imprests or payments in particular will continue to be closely scrutinised along with other non-essential expenditure.

He said Treasury will continue to prioritise weekly SIG salaries, utility payments, provincial government grants, housing rental payments and MRD related payments.

Phillips said a further cashflow update will be provided on Friday, July 23.

Agovaka withholds funds for Malaita projects

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Hon Peter Shanel Agovaka

By EDDIE OSIFELO

MINISTER of Communication and Aviation Peter Shanel Angovaka has deferred the Cabinet paper to divert the SBD$254.5 million (US$31.7 m) World Bank funding support earmarked for various projects in Malaita province.

The funding is coordinated by Solomon Islands Roads and Aviation Project (SIRAP) under the Ministry of Communication and Aviation (MCA) and the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID).

The funding aims to:

  1. reseal Auki road towards Gwounaru’u airport;
  2. upgrade three bridges at Koa, Bio 1, Bio 2 and Fiu between Auki – Dala;
  3. Upgrade Auki to Dala and east road; and
  4. All roads in scope.

Agovaka told Island Sun yesterday the reason to defer the cabinet paper is to allow Malaita Members in the Government and Leader of Opposition, Mathew Wale to talk with MARA Executive government  and people in ward 2 and ward 3.

Earlier, he told SIBC the funds would be diverted after the Premier Suidani-led government refused to the China Harbour Engineering Firm to upgrade the deteriorating Fiu bridge.

However, he said it is good for Malaita national leaders to go down and hold dialogue with the MARA government and people in both wards because the projects belong to them.

Agovaka clarified that contracting the China Harbour Engineering firm was done by the World Bank and not the Solomon Islands government.

“The provincial government made their views clear in not wanting a Chinese operating in Maliata when a consultation was held with the provincial government and the ministry of communication and Aviation, Ministry of Infrastructure and Development and the Ministry Finance and Treasury,” he said.

Agovaka said the Chinese company called into question (China Engineering Harbour) won the bid because it is a world-class company.

He said it is sad to see the Malaita Executive headed by Premier Sudani rejected the company as the project was funded by World Bank.

“The tendering process is done according to World Bank standards and not the government’s process, a cabinet paper has now been brought before cabinet to have the 31.7 million dollars funds withdrawn from Malaita and back to the airport,” he said.

Agovaka adds the funds were first given to Malaita province due to the need that Auki needed such development projects.

Meanwhile Opposition Leader and MP for Auki Langalanga constituency Matthew Wale told SIBC that it is disappointing to note that the government has decided to withhold the fund.

“It is disappointing as a national leader and also a Malaitan leader that the Minister of Communication and Aviation decided to withdraw the funds from the project as its course of action, hopefully, other cabinet ministers decide against this course of action.”

Wale said the reason the Chinese company was rejected was due to China Harbour Engineering Firm was the only bidder and that their bidding price was above the price of the world bank project, also other problems with the bid documents saw the tender committee stating that the company was disqualified due to non-compliance in some of its bidding process.  

“It is totally unreasonable and an overreaction on the ministries side to totally pull out the whole project from Malaita province. The tender process of the whole project was frustrated from the beginning because the Chinese company hasn’t been awarded the project,” he said. 

Wale says the ministry should go back to the tendering process and have more companies bid for the project.

The fact that Malaita doesn’t want a Chinese company operating there should also be factored into the whole tendering process as that issue has been known for a long time.

Front liners who breached protocol in quarantine: PM

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

TWO frontliners who breached prevention and control measures while on duty in Honiara are serving their mandatory quarantine period, says Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare.

Sogavare said these two join 18 other people including six new arrivals from New Zealand on last Friday’s flight from Brisbane and one person who illegally crossed the border from Bougainville in serving their quarantine periods.

“The illegally border crosser is quarantine for 21 days, the person has returned two negative tests for covid-19 so far, two more tests remain and of they are both negative he can be released from quarantine. The issue to do with his illegal crossing will be dealt with after he is released from quarantine.

“I renew my call to all people doing front line duties whether you work for government or of outside government please ensure you comply with all infection prevention and control measures when discharging your duties.

“You constitute our last line foe defence, the security and safety of our nation from covid-19 is in your hands. Protect yourself to protect our nation.

“To date you not be complacent as seen in many countries it takes one lapse in our duties to bring about unprecedented outbreaks of covid-19.

“To communities along the Western Border thank you for your continuous support to authorities to ensure we maintain our covid-19 free statues in the country.

“Your continuous vigilant and support. Not only protect our Western Border, it protects our country especially those that cannot be vaccinated as well as our children under 18 years of age,” Sogavare said.

Sentence for man guilty of raping daughter, July 9

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

A man found guilty of raping his own daughter on two separate occasions in 2016 will be sentenced this Friday after the court received sentencing and mitigation submission from prosecution and defence.

This is the case of a father, who is a school teacher by profession in one of the schools in Isabel, and was charged with two counts of rape pursuant to section 136F (1) (a) and (b) of the Penal Code [cap. 26], as amended by the Penal Code (Amendment) (Sexual Offences) Act 2016 (“the Amendment Act 2016”).

He denied the charges and a trial was conducted on his case where the court found him guilty as charged.

He then was convicted and is awaiting his sentence.

The first incident occurred on August 25, 2016, when the victim went to her father’s house to have some food during break-time and the second incident occurred after the class prep at night in September on that same year.

Prosecution said the man had sexual intercourse with his daughter twice in 2016 on different dates without the consent of the victim.

Office of the Director Public Prosecution appears for the crown on the case while the Public Solicitor’s office is representing the accused.

Phama Plus partners promote products, Auki

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Members of the public of Auki looking at products display during the promotion yesterday.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

MARKET Access working partners or company members of Pacific Horticulture and Agricultural Marketing Access (Phama) Plus programme have promoted their products in Auki, Malaita province.

The partners are Solomon Tropical Product (STP), Kokonut Production Solomon Islands (KPSI), SolAgro and Cathliro Solomon Islands (CSI).

The products were promoted and displayed for the public of Auki yesterday ranging from coconut soaps, virgin coconut oils in varieties, ngali nuts also in varieties of products and chocolates.

Leader of the Phama Plus team in Auki, Former premier of Malaita province, Mr Peter Chanel Ramohia told this paper yesterday that the promotion is part of the Market Access working group under the Phama Plus programme.

He said the purpose of the programme is to work with government and private sector in these countries to access markets to Australia and New Zealand and even outside world.

Partners of the Phama Plus program during their promotion in Auki yesterday.

Ramohia said in implementing the programme in the country, they work through committees established under different sector stakeholders where identification has made on them as top marketing commodities. They include cocoa, coconut, Ngali nut and timber.

One of the challenges these partners always face is on how they (companies) could sell their products. Not only internationally, but domestically.

Ramohia said to address the challenge, one way is to go out to provincial centres and market the products.

He said that this is part of promoting the products and to show people the end-product of raw materials which came from them as beginners of the supply chain.

Ramohia explained that the Phama Plus programme is the second phase of the Phama programme where it targets Pacific island countries to engage in export of primary products.

He said the programme is funded by Australia and New Zealand governments and is implemented in six Pacific countries include, Solomon Islands, PNG, Vanuatu, Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga.

Premier Gina wants issues raised tabled in Parliament

Written by
Ben Bilua
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David Gina

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

PREMIER of Western Province has urged the Parliament’s Health and Medical Service Committee to raise issues they have discussed to the parliament.

David Gina made the statement when the Committee made a courtesy visit to his office yesterday.

The Committee is on a mission to visit and take stock of needed improvement on quarantine facilities in Western and Choiseul provinces.

Speaking during the discussion, Gina said Western Province hosts more than four quarantine facilities, some of which are in need of upgrading.

He made mention of the quarantine facility at Noro that is in need of urgent assistance from the government to maintain its capacity.

“Quarantine Facility at Noro is going down due to lack of management. There is no security at the site and also there is no cleaner to clean the surrounding,” he said.

Gina said continual support towards managing and maintaining of quarantine facilities are important as far as covid-19 response and preparedness is concerned.

Chairperson of Western Province Disaster Committee, Jeffrey Wickham said the Quarantine Facility at Noro is gazetted by the government – meaning the government is responsible to look after the facility.

He said there has not been any direct assistance from the government to upgrade the Noro Quarantine Facility.

Wickham said Noro Quarantine Facility should be treated as a priority as Noro is also at risk due to international ships docking at Noro International Port on a daily basis.

He urged the committee that fair distribution of assistance towards Quarantine Facilities development is very important.

Wickham said amount of support towards quarantine facilities must be standard across the board – meaning provincial quarantine sites should receive similar supports and treatments like quarantine sites in Honiara.

Chairman of National Parliament Health and Medical Services Committee, Charles Sigoto said the oversight committee will gather information and provide a report to the Speaker of Parliament where the report will be tabled later this year.

He said the recommendation will look at how to improve quarantine facility services and how best the interventions would be for best outcome.

“Committee is independent so as the report that will be presented to the Speaker of Parliament

“Our committee is fairly representing the parliament as you can see, we are from both side of the house – the government side and opposition.

“Our mandate is to look at how well we as a country can provide the best quarantine facilities as part of responding and preparation for COVID-19 worst case scenario,” Sigoto said.

Sigoto said recommendations will be submitted and it will be up to the government to take action or not.

Court backs govt’s lock-down exercise

Written by
Press Release
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The High Court of Solomon Islands. Photo by SIBC.

The recent High Court ruling in favour of the government on the legality of the Emergency Powers and its Regulations to the lock-down conducted last year is a major boost to government’s redirection policy on containing and eliminating covid-19 virus.

According to the High Court judgement delivered on Wednesday, June 30, the accused Denis Mitoro was charged with one count of restriction of movement contrary to paragraph 4(1) (a) and (b) of the Emergency Powers (COVID-19) (Restriction of Movement of Persons in Honiara) as read with regulation 11 (1), 2 (a), (b) and (c) and (3) of the Emergency Powers (COVID-19) (No.2) Regulations 2020.”

The High Court heard that Mitoro who is the respondent was allegedly not at his place of residence at Talise, East Kola’a Ridge, at 8.05pm on May 20, 2020. He was seen at Tanuli Ridge a designated area within the emergency zone during the restriction period by the Prime Minister.

Mitoro’s lawyer Ben Ifuto’o argued that Mitoro’s freedom of movement is protected under the National Constitution and Ifuto’o further argued that there was no justification for the lockdown as there was no reported case of covid-19 in the country at that time.

However, in the ruling by the High Court it stated “…the Prime Minister had reasons to believe that the May 2020 lockdown was reasonably justifiable…” in light of the proclamation of the pandemic by World Health Organisation (WHO) to which government responded by testing our capability and preparedness during the lockdown.

The court further added, “Being a responsive government certain measures and restrictions were put in place. Upon the circumstances at hand, COVID-19 was and still can be seen as Health Emergency. There must therefore be preparedness on how the government would respond in the actual emergency.

“About March 11, 2020, there was a declaration by WHO that COVID-19 was a global pandemic. Our government should be commended for keeping the virus at the border. So far, there has been no community transmission of the virus in the country. That in my view was the purpose of the lock down. The government was proactive in their efforts in preparing for and putting in place plans and measures on how to respond to a health emergency,” the Court stated.

After judiciously analysing, the reasons to the lockdown the Court point out that “It will therefore follow that the order for restriction of movement of persons in Honiara from 6pm on May 20, 2020 to 6am on May 22, 2020 is valid and lawful in the particular circumstances of this case.”

The Court ordered that “paragraph 4 (1) (a) and (b) of the Emergency Powers (COVID-19) (Restriction of Movement of Persons in Honiara) (No.2) Order 2020 as read with regulation 11 (1), (2) (a), (b) and (c) and (3) of the Emergency Powers (COVID-19) (No.2) Regulations 2020 are constitutionally sound and valid.”

The case is referred to the magistrate for disposal.

–GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATION UNIT

Hagalu launches community by-law

Written by
Press Release
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PPC David Soakai pose for a photo with the community members during launching of the by-law

By-laws are not new kind of rules or laws.

They already existed in our homes but died out due to our ignorance.

A strong statement made by the Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Central Province, Superintendent David Soakai during the launching of Hagalu community by-law on July 4, 2021.

More than hundred people including the Provincial Community Officer (PCO), Chiefs, Crime Prevention Committees (CPCs) and community elders attended and witnessed the signing of the by-law.

Soakai says, “Chiefs, CPCs, and elders at Hagalu community really appreciate the partnership established between them and police. The community acknowledged RSIPF Community Policing Office at Tulagi for the engagement and awareness programme. This opens the mindset for us rural communities in recognising the by-laws as one that helps to reduce crimes in our communities.

“I am impressed that this is the first community I have visited and witnessed its by-law launching since I took the office as your PPC. It seems to me this community took initiative and corroborated the Crime Prevention Strategy of the RSIPF in Central Province to work in partnership to reduce crimes in our homes and communities.

“That those by-laws are not the new kind of rules or laws, those are the ones that already exist in our homes but die out due to our ignorance. Thank you for taking the initiatives to redirect the course and recognise the importance of the community living in terms of by-laws in crime reductions.

“Community policing officers will continue to engage with communities in Central Province. I appeal to the people of Central Province to respect and take ownership of the by-laws.

“This will help the Chiefs and CPCs to keep an eye on the community together with the Police. I appeal and encourage communities in Central Province to have a positive mindset in making such by-laws as one that can stand tall in communities in terms of peace and unity in the society.”

11 take step of baptism

Written by
Admin
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ELEVEN members of the recently established Naha Height Fellowship Group were baptized in a solemn ceremony held last Sunday at their church venue.

Members of the fellowship group are adherents of the South Seas Evangelical Church (SSEC).

SSEC leader and pastor Rev. Andrew Fanasia conducted the baptism service in the presence of fellowship members.

Those baptized are mostly young people who made the decision to accept Jesus into their lives and follow their Christ.

They include two women.

Fanasia reminded those that were baptized that their decision is a demonstration of their commitment to follow and serve God.

“In the history of SSEC, its first baptized members went on to become its leaders,” Fanasia said.

“It is my prayer that those of you who are baptized today will become leaders of this fellowship group,” he told the 11 baptised members.

Fellowship group leader Elton Osiagalo said the baptizing of 11 of its young members is the best thing to have happened within the group so far.

“We thank God for the lives of these young people who have made that important decision to take that step of baptism as reaffirmation of their faith in Christ,” Osiagalo said.

While Naha Height Fellowship Group conducts weekly Sunday service and is opened to people from all denominations.

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